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ELECTRIC FIELD Lecture Notes

ELECTROSTATICS Insulators (or dielectrics) have all electrons bound to


atoms, not free to move around. Ex: Plastic, wood,
What shall we learn? etc
Electric field
Electric potential 5. Methods of Charging
Three methods
1. Structure of atoms a) Charging by rubbing:
An atom has (+) charged protons in the nucleus and (-) e
e
charged electrons revolving around the nucleus.
Charge of proton = Charge of electron
Neutral means zero net charge.
In neutral atom: silk
wool glass
number of protons=number of neutrons plastic

[The objects in figure are giving or taking a tiny


6p + 6e = 0 proportion of all electrons they have. What makes them
charged is the imbalance of opposite charges]
Anology for charged object:
1 gram
If atom takes electron it becomes minus charged; 100 000 100 000
If atom gives electron it becomes plus charged. Sebat Kyrgyz Turkish High Schools tons tons
Protons are not transferred.

2. Unit of Charge: b) Charging by conduction:


Charge is shown by Q or q.
Unit of charge is Coulomb (C, )
1 mC = 10-3 C (millicoulomb) e
1 C = 10-6 C (microcoulomb)
1 nC = 10-9 C (nanocoulomb)
neutral charged
Charge of electron (or proton) is called elementary
charge, is shown by e and is the smallest charge in Note: Excess charge on a conductor resides on the
nature. surface.
1 e= 1.6 x 10-19 C
or
6.25 x 1018 e= 1 C

3. Properties of Electric Charge


Charge is conserved: The total electric charge in an Surface charge density (): is the charge per unit area
isolated system, that is, the algebraic sum of the on a surface
positive and negative charges present at any time,
Q C
never changes. = unit: 2 q small
Charge is quantized: S m
big
q big small
Rule: Conducting spheres share the total charge in
continious quantized proportion with their radii.

Any charge can be written: Q = N e N= integer Ex: a) Find q1and q2 after


spheres touched together.
That means we dont have half electron or 0.7 e. b) Show cons. of charge: r 2r
qinitial=qfinal
Force between charges: q1+q2 = q1+ q2 q1= -10q q2= 1q
Like charges repel, unlike charges attract each other.
Ex: Find q1and q2 after
4. Conductors and Insulators spheres touched together.
Conductors contain charges that are free to move 2r
throughout the material. Ex: Metals, salt water, etc.. So formula is:
{Ask students to invent the q1=18q 3r
atom [one atom frees formula}
not all, but 1 or q2=-8q
free q
electron 2 or 3 of its q1 = total r1
electrons] rtotal

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ELECTRIC FIELD Lecture Notes
q1=24C
Ex: Find q1and q2 6. Coulombs Law
r
a) if touched inside For two point charges:
b) if touched outside 2r 3r q1 q2
F F
d
q2=12C Forces are equal (Newtons third law)
Magnitude is:
c) Charging by induction: qq
Ex: F 1 22
d
qq
F = (const) 1 2 2
d
metal Constant written in two ways:

q1q 2
plastic supports F=k or
d2
Separate the metals, then remove the rod.
1 q1q 2 1 2
Nm
F= 2
k= = 9109
Grounding: [When a conductor is touched to 4 d 0
4 0 C
2

earth, it loses all its charge]


{Actually the earth is a big sphere receiving Therefore:
charge in proportion with its radius} C
2

0 = 8.8510-12 2
(permittivity of free space)
Sebat Kyrgyz Turkish High Schools

Nm
Ex:
[Which means these constants are calculated for
vacuum between charges. Charges immersed in water,
for example, formula is the same, only the constants
change.]
e {Coulombs law is for charges at rest. If both charges
are moving, the law does not apply.}
First cut the wire, then remove the rod.
Ex: Find F=?
Electroscope q1= 5C q2= -2C
{Class demonstrations}
d=30 cm

Ex: (HW) a) Find the force between electron and


proton in hydrogen atom if r=5x10-11m.
b) Find orbital velocity.

Ex: Electroscope uncharged Ex: Electroscope Ex: Find F=? if F =10 N.


initially plus charged q1 q2
F F
d
?
e q1 q2
F F
2d
Ex: Identical small metallic spheres touched.

+3q -q
Ex: What will happen
F1 d F1
when object touched?
Find F2/F1=?

d
F2 F2

[There are three possibilities ]

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ELECTRIC FIELD Lecture Notes

7. Superposition Principle 8. Electric Potential Energy


Fnet = F1 + F2 + F3 + (Vector sum) Potential energy of a two point charge system:

Ex: Find net force on q1 q q1 q2 q1q 2


q. PE = k
F1 d
d1 d
2 F2 1 q1q 2
F1= k q1q / d1 = 40N PE =
(for example) Fnet 4 0 d
d2
Energy is scalar (no direction)
F1= k q2q / d22 = 30N q2 Electric PE can be plus or minus [dep. on sign of
(for example) charges]

{We are trying to save time, so we dont give q and d values Superposition:
in the class} q2
[In superposition principle, when force of q1 on q is being
q1q2 qq qq
calculated, q2, q3, q4, are to be simply forgetten, their PE = k +k 1 3 k 2 3 d12 d13
presence or absence does not change force of q1 on q.] d12 d13 d 23
[There are other forces in the figure above (forces on q1 and q1 q3
q2), but they are not drawn, because they are not acting on q, d23
and we are wanted the force on q]
4 charges bring 6 such terms
Ex: Find net force on q3. (q1= 2mC, q2=4mC, q3=1C)
q1 q3 q2
30 cm 20 cm
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Ex: At what point will a third charge be in Ex: Find final KE of q2. q1 fixed.
equilibrium?
PEi= -120J
q1= 3mC q2= 12 mC q1 d q2
120 cm
v

{Since we are finding a proportion, we can use any unit we q1 d/2 q2


like, so cm can stay}

Ex: Example 1.16 from SURAT Physics 2. Ex: q1 fixed. a) Find KE of q2 at 3d.
b) Find KEmax of q2. Where does it occur?
Ex: (HW) Find the tension in the rope. q1 q2
PEi= +120J
T d
q1
v

d q1 3d q2
q2 b) At infinity PE=0.

Ex: a) Find PEf. b) Compare PEi and PEf


8 mC 6 mC c) Find work done by the boy. (v=const)
Ex: Find net force on center
charge if one side of square q1 q2
PEi= -120J
is 30 2 cm. 1C d

q1 q2
2 mC 5 mC
3d
q2
Ex: Find F on q3.
d d
c) [We cant use W=F.x because force changing]
q1 q3 Wext= (Energy)
d But KE is not changing (v=const)
So: Wext= PE = PEf - PEi
Fel q2 Fext
[ d) Find Welectrical forces=?
Since Felectric is opposite to Fext, Welectrical forces=-Wext.]

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ELECTRIC FIELD Lecture Notes

Ex: What work is needed to q1=2 mC q2=5C Sources of Electric Field 2


bring q2 from infinity? (q1 fixed) Field of charged plane:
30 cm
Wext = PEf PEi = PEf 0 = PEf Surface charge density ():
Q C
Definition: Potential energy of a charge system is = unit: 2
S m
equal to the work done in bringing charges from
infinity.
One plate:
9. Electric Field (E) +
Remember gravitational field (g):
g is force on unit mass

F N m=2kg E=
g= unit: 2 0
m kg
g=10 N/kg F=20 N
[2 kg mass is not making the gravitational field. We
put it there just to nderstand if there is electric field] E uniform
Electric field (E): [Actually this formula is for infinite plate. If the plate
Electric field at a point is electric force on positive unit is infinitely large (dividing the whole universe into two
charge at that point. parts) the field does naturally not decrease no
[To understand if there is electric field at a point in matter how far away from the plate you go. But we still
space, we place a small test charge (qt) at that point. If can use the formula for a small plate, if our distance
a force pushes or pulls this charge, there is electric from the plate is even smaller. A plate of 10cm x 10cm
point at that point.] dimensions seems to be infinitely large if viewed from
a distance of 1 mm. The same plate becomes like a
point charge if we are 10 m away]
E
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qt F F N
E= unit: +
qt C

[Test charge is not making the electric field. Electric


field is produced by another charge not shown in
picture]

Sources of Electric Field 1 E uniform


Field produced by point charge:
Superposition Principle:
Q (source) Enet = E1 + E2 + E3+ (Vector sum)
F q1
E1
d qt Enet
Qq t q2 E2
k Q
F d2
E= = E=k 2
qt qt d
Ex: Find electric field 3m away from a 2C point
charge.
Q Q E
E Ex: Electric field at a distance of 2 m from a point
charge is 6000 N/C. Find the field strength at 4m?

Q E E /4
d d

2C 5C
Ex: Find electric field at
midpoint between charges. 60 cm

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ELECTRIC FIELD Lecture Notes

Ex: At what point between 4q q 15. Charged particle in E


the charges is the electric
100 cm E
field zero? q F
Ex: Find electric field at the 8 nC 6 nC ..F = qE..
center of the square if d=10
-F -q
cm.
d
Ex: Find tension in the rope. Given E= 4000 N/C,
2 nC 5 nC m=500gr, q = 1mC.

Ex: Find electric field + - E g


between and outside q
oppositely charged parallel
plates. E=? E=? E=?
[Such a combination is Ex: Find acceleration of a proton in an electric field of
called a capacitor] E= 106 N/C. (mp=1.67x 10-27 kg)
Ans: a=qE/m
d
Ex: q = 400 C, q
Ex: a) Compare E at points + - m = 200 gr
A, B and C. E=? m
b) What if d 2d A B C particle in E
equilibrium
Sebat Kyrgyz Turkish High Schools

Ex: Find tension in the rope.


q = 20C
Ex: Find direction of E at points + - E= 300,000 N/C E 37
q
P and M P
Q m

M
Ex: {extra} Find final speed of particle.

E
Ex: Find a point where 2q q
E=0 100 cm v0=0
vf=?

m
12. Electric field lines
Properties: d
9 Field lines start from (+) and terminate at (-) charges
9 Closer lines means stronger field Ex: {extra} An electron is in 105 N/C uniform electric
9 Parallel lines mean uniform field field. Initial velocity is zero. Find speed and
displacement 10 seconds later. (Neglect gravity)

{Also -q, +q pair is to be drawn}


9 Field vector always tangent to field lines
E1
Enet
E2
q1 q2

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